A recent study (AJ Sanyal et al. Hepatology 2019; 70: 1913-27) used prospectively collected data from two large randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2b studies of simtuzumab in patients with either bridging fibrosis (n=217) or compensated cirrhosis (n=258) due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The age range of participants were 48-61 years with median ages of 55 years and 57 years for the two cohorts. All patients had liver biopsies at screening and at weeks 48 and 96.
Key findings:
- Progression to cirrhosis occurred in 22% (48/217) of patients with bridging fibrosis (F3) over a median of 29 months
- Liver-related adverse clinical events (eg. ascites, variceal bleeding, encephalopathy, MELD score ≥15, liver transplantation or death) occurred in 19% (50/258) with compensated cirrhosis over a median of 29 months. Only 1 patient in this cohort died.
- Higher baseline hepatic fibrosis or serum markers of fibrosis were associated with disease progression in patients with F3 disease
My take: Among those with advanced liver disease, this study indicates that disease progression/deterioration is rather rapid in about 20%.
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P’tit Train du Nord Linear Park (near Montreal) -124 Miles
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